New York (CNNMoney) - Former President George W. Bush said Tuesday he wishes his name wasn't so firmly attached to one of his administration's signature pieces of legislation - the broad-based tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year.

"I wish they weren't called the Bush tax cuts. If they were called someone else's tax cuts, they'd be less likely to be raised," he said in introductory remarks at a conference at the Bush Presidential Center, which he opened after leaving office.

soundoff(38 Responses)

Wire Palladin, S. F.

Ever hear of Obamacare? The only difference is that the Affordable Care Act helps millions of people and reduces the debt, while the Bush Tax Cuts help only the wealthiest and add trillions of dollars to our national debt.

April 10, 2012 10:27 am at 10:27 am |

SUBS 4 VOTES

"And if the goal is to create private sector growth, you have to recognize that the best way is to leave capital in the treasuries of the job creators."
------------------------------------------------
Our current President has created more jobs in his first term than Bush did in 8 years. The trickle down theory is played out and doesn't work. They're called the Bush tax cuts because you pushed hard for them...twice. Recall ever saying "the American people want a refund?" Well, we didn't need one, nor did we ask for one. Just go away!!!!

April 10, 2012 10:34 am at 10:34 am |

BLKMANinAmerica

I'm sure the king of DENIAL wishes more then that. WHAT ABOUT REALITY GW?

April 10, 2012 10:38 am at 10:38 am |

mandarax

It's a shame that the "Bush Recession" hasn't caught on as a historical term, along with the Bush Wars, and the Bush Tax cuts. There were those that warned all along that the economy would collapse if we increased spending and took on two wars while cutting taxes. It's amazing how many people seemed surprised and outraged as it happened.

April 10, 2012 10:40 am at 10:40 am |

preacherman

It's a shame that the "Bush Recession" hasn't caught on as a historical term, along with the Bush Wars, and the Bush Tax cuts. There were those that warned all along that the economy would collapse if we increased spending and took on two wars while cutting taxes. It's amazing how many people seemed surprised and outraged as it happened.

April 10, 2012 10:40 am at 10:40 am |

tanjainfh

This guy needs to get over himself. I for one wish his name was never attached to the presidency but dealt with that too...

Sorry W. But if they can attache AHA aka ObamaCare to President Obama. Then were it with pride. POTUS does.

April 10, 2012 10:45 am at 10:45 am |

kingsley

Wow he wishes his signature tax cuts isnt so firmly attached to his name, well talk to your party who is currently protecting the richest americans. Talk to romney who wants to give more tax cuts to his buddies. Talk to the republicans who believes that the so called job creators without no job created are firmly in support of more taxcuts. Even Reagan who is thier hero has to raise taxes when he knew it was neccesary. One thing i ve learnt from the republicans is thier ability to flip flop, they will support something as soon as the democrats agree then they will flip. They think we are stupid. I am an independent who is not easily fooled with rhetoric about job killing taxes. There should be a fair share when it comes to taxes all they are good for is declaring war on women.

April 10, 2012 10:46 am at 10:46 am |

Lisa P

Thanks to George W. Bush for reminding us just how we got into the mess we're in.

April 10, 2012 10:46 am at 10:46 am |

Sandy

I'm so glad Bush decided to weigh in and say the tax cuts should be extended. Too bad democrats don't have this on tape. It would be a good commercial for democrats. Anything Bush says, the people will want the opposite. I hope Bush keeps weighing in and remind people what they will get if they vote Republican.

April 10, 2012 10:52 am at 10:52 am |

Jeff in TX

So much for leadership. Oh brother. And "Obamacare" is properly named...

April 10, 2012 10:55 am at 10:55 am |

Sniffit

"If they were called someone else's tax cuts, they'd be less likely to be raised,"

Wrong. Dude just can't seem to get anything right. The BUSH TAX CUTS would be doomed anyway because they were STUPID and are the single biggest contributing factor in the deficits and growing debt, not because of the pithy little name they were given. This is not to say we don't still loathe Bush, the sniveling plutocrat chickenhawk jackhole, just that his name has nothing to do with recognizing that the BUSH TAX CUTS are the very cornerstone of our budgetary problems. The numbers don't lie.

April 10, 2012 10:56 am at 10:56 am |

Dead-On-Arrival-Candidate

Where was the Tea Party when Bush was raising the DEFICIT by lowering taxes for the rich and embarking on unfunded wars?

Hypocrisy!

April 10, 2012 10:56 am at 10:56 am |

ST

What is "W" astonished of?? Once a person initiate something, he is entitled to own it even that thing got baptised accordingly. There is Obamacare, Romneycare and why not Bush Tax Cuts???

April 10, 2012 11:02 am at 11:02 am |

judy

he may be right. Bush gets a lot of attention. But repo tax cuts are just as bad. Vote all repos out Move forward not back. Obama 2012

April 10, 2012 11:11 am at 11:11 am |

Thomas

It's more like he wishes his first name wasn't George W !

Anywhere in the world he goes , he will be made fun of , so he will stay in Texas.

I wish WMDs were called GWB's .

April 10, 2012 11:13 am at 11:13 am |

RealityBites

The Bush tax cuts became the Obama tax cuts when the super majority of democrats, urged on by Obama's, extended them passed the Bush deadline.

April 10, 2012 11:16 am at 11:16 am |

stranger in an increasingly strange land

Perhaps if he had not been so adamant about cutting taxes for the rich and corporations the tax breaks would not be associated so strongly with him. Then again, he is a Republican. Republican legislators will always support tax breaks for their fellow millionaires, then claim that the tax breaks for the rich actually help the middle class and poor. They have been making those claims since before Richard Nixon. Each time the tax breaks for the rich end up doing little or nothing for anyone but the rich. Then every election year they claim: This time is different, this time we will help those unfortunate not enough not to be born into the superior class. This time we will help lesser humans. Trust us, this time we are telling the truth.

The truth. Before Nixon the highest tax rate was 95% on the wealthiest Americans. Since Nixon the tax rate for the richest has dropped almost 2/3 to about 37% before deductions. Romney pays under 15% after taking all his deductions. My tax rate as a senior citizen on a fixed income is higher than that. In the same time period the taxes on the middle clas has skyrocketed, as have the taxes paid by the poor.

Check it yourself folks.

April 10, 2012 11:20 am at 11:20 am |

Larry L

Those tax cuts had a huge impact on our deficit and the lowering of our S&P bond rating. That and two poorly-executed wars are the Bush legacy. He and Cheney can take credit for over 4,500 dead and 40,000 seriously wounded Service-members from the war they started with falsified intelligence data.

Notice he's not given his endorsement to any of the political candidates? Nobody wants it! Republicans want to pretend the recession and failed economy was somehow President Obama's fault – even when if happened BEFORE he took office.

April 10, 2012 11:21 am at 11:21 am |

real American

I'm guessing there is not much stomach here for support for W but I'd give my left nut to have him as presidnet over the P-resident we have now....I can't wait for November.

April 10, 2012 11:21 am at 11:21 am |

GI Joe

And if we had our wish he would be in Prison for starting an illegal war.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

April 10, 2012 11:28 am at 11:28 am |

Sniffit

"It's more like he wishes his first name wasn't George W !

Anywhere in the world he goes , he will be made fun of , so he will stay in Texas.

I wish WMDs were called GWB's ."

I'd have to say the analogy is quite apt. The GOP essentially set off an economic nuclear bomb as soon as Dubya was elected and they started ramming through their agenda, using procedures like Reconciliation to bypass the Dems and force through massive tax cuts.

April 10, 2012 11:28 am at 11:28 am |

Cynthia

@ real American – nobody but, nobody wants your nuts – not even the ones rolling around in your head.
As for W, the man will never, ever, be seen as the brightest bulb in American history. I can't wait for November, either.
Go Obama!

April 10, 2012 11:45 am at 11:45 am |

Dave

It's funny how Republicans are always harping about personal responsibility – as long as they don't have to take any themselves.